Civil Unions Irrelevant Five Years On

Family First NZ says that five
years on from the passing of the Civil Unions legislation,
the evidence shows that the legislation has been a
completely unnecessary piece of social engineering.

“The
civil unions legislation has proved to be a complete white
elephant and is evidence of social engineering being of no
productive use,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of
Family First NZ, “This is despite the claims by the
previous Labour government that it would supposedly
strengthen human rights and support the choices of
apparently 300,000 people who were not married but lived in
stable relationships.”

According to Statistics NZ data,
there have been only 1,646 civil unions registered in the 4
years between April 2005 and March 2009. These comprised
1,330 same-sex unions (594 male and 736 female), 312
opposite-sex unions and just four transfers from
marriage.

“Over the same period, there were around
85,000 marriages.”

“NZ’ers didn’t feel
discriminated against, and didn’t have a problem with the
religious connotations of marriage, which are not compulsory
anyway. But couples are still choosing marriage and that’s
a good thing.”

“The huge amount of energy spent on
trying to concoct a need for civil unions and debating it
through parliament would have been better spent on
developing policies which promote, encourage and strengthen
marriage, and to minimise the likelihood of divorce, thereby
providing the best and safest environment for children to be
raised.”

“The potential legal issues surrounding
next-of-kin status and other legal issues relating to
non-marriage relationships could have been easily solved
without undermining the special status of
marriage.”

“According to the latest Census, more than
2/3’rds of NZ’ers in a partnership have chosen marriage
as opposed to de facto or civil union arrangements.
Tragically, the law now makes virtually no distinction
between these different groups, with marriage no longer
having the unique or special status it deserves. In fact,
there is effectively a ‘marriage tax’.”

“Marriage
is an important social good with a smorgasbord of positive
outcomes for children and adults alike. Governments should
focus on, and encourage and support what works,” says Mr
McCoskrie.

ALSO:

WorkSafe NZ has laid one charge against the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) in relation to the shooting at the MSD Ashburton office on 1 September 2014 in which two Work and Income staff were killed and another was injured. More>>

New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters has announced his intention to stand in the Northland by-election, citing his own links to the electorate and ongoing neglect of the region by central government. More>>

The Government has appointed 12 New Zealanders as members of the Flag Consideration Panel which will engage with the public about a possible new New Zealand flag, Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says. More>>

ALSO:

ALSO:

The first I knew of my mother’s charges was when I was called by a reporter yesterday. I spoke to Andrew and we agreed there is a conflict of interest at the present time which means I will temporarily stand aside from the Social Development portfolio. It’s the right thing to do… . More>>